BBC chief quits

George Entwistle says he is stepping down as the BBC's director general, according to a statement on the British entertainment network’s website posted Saturday.

The BBC chief, who was appointed in July, resigned over the controversial airing of an investigative news report that indicated a one-time senior political figure was involved in a child sex-abuse scandal at a care home in Wales.

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The alleged victim later said the case was one of mistaken identity. The accused, who was not named, has threatened to sue the organization.

"We should not have put out a film that was so fundamentally wrong," Entwistle told BBC radio before resigning on Saturday. "What happened here is completely unacceptable."

The British corporation has come under fire recently after one of its celebrity faces from the 1970s and 1980s, Jimmy Savile, was revealed to be a prolific paedophile.

The organization’s flagship investigative show, “Newsnight,” which aired the political accusations, was heavily criticized for shelving an investigation into the allegations against Savile.

Entwistle, a one-time “Newsnight” editor himself, rose through the news ranks to become director general. His predecessor, Mark Thompson, was appointed president and chief executive of the New York Times in April.

Full statement here:

"In the light of the fact that the Director-General is also the Editor-in-Chief and ultimately responsible for all content; and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2nd November; I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down from the post of Director-General.

"When appointed to the role, with 23 years' experience as a producer and leader at the BBC, I was confident the Trustees had chosen the best candidate for the post, and the right person to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. However, the wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader.

"To have been the Director-General of the BBC even for a short period, and in the most challenging of circumstances, has been a great honour.

"While there is understandable public concern over a number of issues well covered in the media - which I’m confident will be addressed by the Review process - we must not lose sight of the fact that the BBC is full of people of the greatest talent and the highest integrity. That’s what will continue to make it the finest broadcaster in the world."